Since the India-Pakistan match for the 2017 Asia Cup has been approved, the Indian government has made clear its position on the sporting relationship between the two countries. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports clarified its position on the subject in a public statement.
Although the teams will compete in multi-nation tournaments alongside Pakistan, the government affirmed that India will not participate in bilateral competitions with Pakistan. However, it is unclear if Indian athletes will compete in Pakistani-hosted events.
The announcement was made less than three weeks before the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates officially begins.
The match between the bitter rivals is set for September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
According to the schedule, assuming both clubs advance to the next round (Super Four and the final), there might be at least two additional encounters between them outside of the group-stage match. In the meantime, this would be India’s first encounter with Pakistan since the Pahalgam terror assault, which killed a number of people.
“In terms of bilateral sporting events in each other’s nations, Indian teams will not be competing in Pakistani competitions. We won’t allow Pakistani teams to play in India either. The interests of our own athletes and the policies of international sports organisations serve as our guidelines for international and multilateral tournaments, whether they take place in India or outside. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and sporting issued a statement that read, “It is also pertinent to consider India’s emergence as a credible venue to host international sports events.”
A hybrid format has been agreed upon by the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board of Cricket for Control in India for the remaining ICC events in the 2024–2027 cycle. According to the agreement, both nations will only perform at neutral locations. The 2025 Champions Trophy, where the Men in Blue played their matches, including the final, in the United Arab Emirates, was the first time this was seen.
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